What The Bible Says About Servanthood

(Text: Matthew 20:20-28)
By: Barry L. Cameron


Quote: A businessman once asked Lorne Sanny, then president of the Navigators, how he could know when he had a servantlike attitude. His answer was, “By how you act when you are treated like one.”

* Every Christian knows they are supposed to be a servant. However, too many Christians are actually repulsed when they are treated like one.

* The average church member in America couldn’t care less about genuine, Biblical servanthood. Instead, they resemble spoiled rotten brats at an amusement park. Showing up to have a good time, along for the ride, as long as it’s fun and exciting, and they leave criticizing.
- The average church member in America doesn’t join a church to serve, they join to be served.
- That’s why, according to the Barna Research group, the majority of people who join a church are gone in 6 weeks or less.

* Contemporary Christianity bares little resemblance to the first century church.

* In today’s church, too many people don’t want to serve, they want to succeed.
- They don’t want the Word, they want motivational speeches that make them feel good.
- They don’t want revival, they want renewal.
- They don’t want to fast and pray, they want support groups where they can get together for two hours of mutual whining.

* Tragically, many churches have reengineered themselves to cater to the wants, whims, and wishes of people who aren’t even saved. And many of those in the church who claim they are saved are, in reality, uninterested and unconcerned pretenders who ignore the will and Word of God while pursuing their own agendas.

* Today’s cotton-candy clergy are delivering nothing more than a sugarcoated substitute for the real thing. It looks and sounds great and appears very attractive. However, it leaves those who partake of it, empty, and so sick they’ll wish they never took the first bite.

* We have bigger crowds, but fewer committed Christians.
* We have more than our fair share of tyrants, but fewer and fewer true servants.
* We live like there’s no tomorrow, sin like there are no consequences, conduct our lives as if there are no real standards and then wonder why our world marches on as if there’s no God.

* We have become a pathetic bunch of over-fed, under-worked, professors of a Christianity we don’t really put into practice.

* The church isn’t suffering from a lack of self-esteem. Rather, we’re suffering from a lack of servanthood. We’ve turned the church into a mutual admiration society where everyone’s telling everyone else what a great job they’re doing while, for the most part, no one’s really doing anything.
- We don’t reach the lost. We don’t impact our culture.
- And we don’t really make a difference for Christ…because we’re not really like Him.

* We need to re-think what we believe about servanthood.

- If the church is full of servants, why is there ever a shortage of workers?
- We have between 1800-2000 different people who attend here regularly. Shouldn’t we have that many workers?

* Why is it, when you ask someone in the church to help out with something, you feel like you’re walking on glass or egg shells and you’ve got to be careful to say just the right thing?

* We’re tyrants, not servants…great at telling others what they need to be doing. (“Do this…do that…etc.”)

* We immerse ourselves in the wisdom and culture of the world and mimic the way they do things.
- Even though Jesus said, “Not so among you!” (Matthew 20:26)

* We’ll compromise anything, from our convictions to the clear commands of Scripture all for the sake of not hurting anyone’s feelings.
- Then, we’ll crucify anyone who dares to suggest we might be compromising God’s standards.

* We’re terrible at recognizing and submitting to spiritual authority in our lives.
- But we’re great at saying, “That’s not my job,” or “Nobody’s gonna’ tell me what to do.”

* We’re not the servants Jesus called us to be. Nor are we the servants we think we are.

* There’s a lot of folks wanting on the Glory train, but only if they’re in first class and have unlimited access to the engineer so they can stop and go when they want.

* We need to re-think what we believe about servanthood.
- If we were all servants, it would eliminate about half the problems we have to deal with.

Matthew 20:20-28 (Mark 10:35-45)

- The role of a servant has always been an issue among the followers of Jesus.
* Not with Jesus, but with His followers.

* If the disciples (the closest people on earth to Jesus) were arguing about perks, prestige, position and privilege just prior to His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion…we should be prepared to have to deal with it in our day, too.
* But, shouldn’t we be ashamed of such actions and attitudes on the part of those who claim to follow the greatest Servant Who ever lived?

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Quote: Henry Martyn, on reaching the shores of India said,
“And now, let me burn out for God.
” He did in six short years, but with an incredible legacy of achievement in Bible translation left behind. “And when I am dying, how glad I shall be,
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee;
I shall not care whatever I gave
Of labour or money one sinner to save;
I shall not care that the way has been rough;
That Thy dear feet led the way is enough;
And when I am dying, how glad I shall be,
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee.”

Quote: H.B. London, (“Your Pastor Is An Endangered Species”)
“Being a genuine servant of Christ means giving up all fascination with status and stature to follow Jesus. The One who drew followers with a basin and towel, a lethal cross, and a leave-everything summons, calls us to follow Him too.”
“Jesus cleansed the meaning of greatness when He said, ‘The greatest among you shall be the servant of all.’ No longer is the man great who has a great number of servants, but that man is great who serves the greatest number.”

* Leaders ought to be the greatest servants of all.
- In fact, a person who isn’t a good servant, isn’t qualified to lead others.
- I Timothy 3:10, Deacons are to be tested first, then allowed to serve as deacons.

Quote: Eugene B. Habecker,
“The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.”

Philippians 2:5-11

John 13 is perhaps the greatest teaching on servanthood in the entire Bible.

(1) The Pattern of Jesus (John 13:1-11)
- He demonstrated servanthood.
- He did what each of the disciples were unwilling and unmotivated to do.

* Peter’s response in vs. 6-8 reveals an attitude of superiority and arrogance.
- “You don’t need to wash my feet. The other guys need it, but not me.”

* When you view yourself as better than others, or as more privileged or more deserving than others, you’re not a servant.

Philippians 2:1-4. Before Paul talks about the servant’s heart, attitude and lifestyle of Christ, he warns us.

(2) The Proclamation of Jesus (John 13:12-17)
- “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (vs. 15)
- “Now if you KNOW these things, you will be blessed if you DO them.” (vs. 17)
- Jesus is wanting them to get a hold of the idea of servanthood.

(3) The Purpose of Jesus (John 13:34-35)
- They could never impact their world unless they were willing to be servants.
- Jesus had loved the disciples by serving them.
* He wanted them to do the same.
* It would be the distinguishing mark that they belonged to Him.

Matthew 20:25-28. “Not so with you!”
- “You know how the world does it, we don’t do it that way!”

Quote: Erwin Lutzer, (“Your Eternal Reward”)
“In the world, greatness is determined by the number of people you rule; power is the name of the game. In the kingdom, greatness is determined by the number of people you serve. Humility is the badge of highest honor. Indeed, Christ Himself was exalted because He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life for us.”

Luke 17:7-10. Jesus was teaching His disciples that there is no glory in servanthood.
- We should just serve because that is what we were called to do.

* That should be our response: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

Contrast Between the Prideful Servant and the Humble Servant:

PRIDEFUL:
1. Feelings get hurt.
2. Has a tendency to complain.
3. Craves recognition.
4. Wants you to know what all they’ve done.
(Hours put in, effort expended, etc.)
5. Keeps score.
6. Serves primarily in visible areas of service.
7. Wants what’s rightfully theirs. (Perks, benefits)
8. Worries about others not serving like they do.
9. Serves others for personal benefit.
* Flattery (Prov. 27:6)
10. Resents correction.
11. Whines about the work.
12. Honors self.

HUMBLE:
1. Keeps feelings in check.
2. Is consistent in being compliant.
3. Seeks only the Master’s approval.
4. Wants the job done.
5. Lets God keep score. (Matthew 6:4)
6. Prefers to serve behind the scenes.
7. Wants to do their work and let others concern themselves with the extras.
8. Only concern is their own service.
9. Serves others regardless of benefits.
10. Receives correction.
11. Works while others whine.
12. Honors God.

* Which servant are you? What are your real motives for serving?
- With God, your motives are more important than your accomplishments.

Quote: Lem Tucker, “God’s call to leadership is not a call to privilege and displays of power but a call to servanthood and humility.”

* Leaders ought to be the very best servants of all and ought to serve with Christ-like humility.

“If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.” (Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest.”)

- It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that are most likely to be remembered.

How Should We Serve? (Mother Teresa)
“Do You want my hands, Lord, to spend the day helping the sick and the poor who need them? Lord, today I give You my hands. Do You want my feet, Lord, to spend the day visiting those who need a friend? Lord, today I give You my feet. Do You want my voice, Lord, to spend the day speaking to all who need Your words of love? Lord, today I give You my voice. Do You want my heart, Lord, to spend the day loving everyone without exception? Lord, today I give You my heart.”

* What does the Bible say about servanthood?

- It says that we should serve like JESUS, who “did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)